Not the first to profit from a fake story.
Via Daily Wire:
The couple who raised nearly half a million dollars for a homeless man after he gave his last $20 to the woman will face criminal charges as will the homeless man for making up the entire story, officials say.
“Mark D’Amico, Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt will face charges including conspiracy and theft by deception,” NBC 10 reported on Wednesday.
NBC 10 reviewed a complaint that alleges the three “conspired with one another to make up a false story in order to raise more than $400,000.”
D’Amico and McClure turned themselves into Burlington County authorities on Wednesday after prosecutors said that they, along with Bobbitt, intentionally prevented those who donated to their GoFundMe page from accessing relevant information that “would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort.”
The three gained national attention last year after the couple claimed that Bobbitt gave his last $20 to help McClure purchase fuel after she ran out while driving on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia.
The couple came under scrutiny not long after the story broke and the $400,000+ was raised after Bobbitt and his lawyer said that “McClure and D’Amico gave him around $75,000 as well as the vehicle and the camper, but have since learned that the rest of the money is gone.”